Adjustable rotary beater for agricultural machines



Sept. 14, 1954 J. D. GORDON 2,688,832

ADJUSTABLE ROTARY BEATER FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINES Filed May 19, 1952 6Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR JOHN D. GORDON ATTORNEW Sept. 14, 1954 J. D.GORDON 2,688,8352

ADJUSTABLE ROTARY BEATER AFOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINES Filed May 19, 1952 6Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN D. GORDON ATTORNEYJF Sept. 14, 1954 Y J. D.GORDON 2,688,832

ADJUSTABLE ROTARY BEATER FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINES Filed May 19, 1952 6Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEXTOR JOHN D. GORDON Sept. 14, 1954 J. D. GORDON2,688,832

ADJUSTABLE ROTARY BEATER FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINES Filed May 19, 1952 6Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR g JOHN D. GORDON MTORNEYz Sept. 14, 1954 J. D.GoRDoN 2,688,832

ADJUSTABLE ROTARY BEATER FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINES Filed May 19, 1952 6Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR JOHN D. GORDON 'A ATTQRNESX sept. 14, 1954 FiledMay 19, 1952 J. D. GORDON 'ADJUSTABLE ROTARY BEATER FOR AGRICULTURALMACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 l' /Il .l nl I o o' O JQO O7 r O* i Ln NINVENTOR fl) 3 JOHN O. GORDON ATTORNEYS` Patented Sept. 14, 1954ADJUSTABLE ROTARY BEATER FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINES John D. Gordon,Boise,

Manufacturing Comp poration of Idaho Idaho, assignor to Olson any,Boise, Idaho, a cor- Application May 19, 1952, Serial No. 288,679

7 Claims. f1

The present invention relates to agricultural machines and moreparticularly to improvements in rotary beaters such as disclosed in theAgee et al. Patent 2,506,054, May 2, 1950 for disintegrating or removingthe tops of vegetable plants and the like as the machine travels overafield.

An important object is to provide an agricultural machine such as arotary beater or the like with a wheel supported cross beam or memberand a housing or hood in which is rotatably mounted, impact members suchas ilexible ilails. The housing is laterally spaced from the cross beamso as to be in front thereof, and spring suspension means are providedfor pivotally connecting the sides of the housing to the cross beam ino-rder that the rear end of the housing and the nails may be verticallyadjustable to vary the length of the nails relative to the ground andwithout disturbing the angular relationship of the cross beam with thesurface over which the machine passes.

A further object consists in providing a rotary beater topper ormacerator for vegetable plants and the like, including a verticallydisplaceable housing, a wheel supported cross beam, and spaced pairs oflongitudinally extending parallel torque bars that are pivotallyconnected to the cross beam and to opposite sides of the housing so asto provide a movable connection of the housing with the cross beam.Additionally, spring suspension means are connected to the pair oftorque bars and the adjacent sides of the housing to insure the housingand its associated parts being supported in pro-per balanced position bythe cross beam, as the machine is towed over the ground or eld by atractor or the like.

Another object consists in associating with the rotary ail an endlessbelt driving mechanism provided with tensioning means for adjusting thebelt to insure proper and efficient operation of the machine.

`Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying claims and drawings.

Referring to the drawings in which are shown several preferredembodiments of the invention:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the improved disintegratingmachine;

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1 showing the machine connected to atowing tractor or the like;

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 1 showing parts removed for clearnessof illustration;

Figure 4 is a detailed side view showing the machine in its raisedposition and the axle in front of the cross beam;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5 5 ofFigure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 6-6 ofFigure 3;

Figure 7 is a detailed perspective view with parts in section showingthe means for operatively connecting the 'lail housing to the wheelsupported cross beam; and

Figure 8 is a side view of a modied form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, I designates a disintegrating machine such asa rotary beater, and which preferably is provided with a verticallydisplaceable curved housing or hood II (Figure 1) having closed sidesI2. A centrally disposed tongue or drawbar extends outwardly from thehousing Il] so as to be detachably connected as at I4 (Fig. 2) to atowing tractor or the like I5. Extending transversely of the housing I Iadjacent the front thereof is a cross bar or strap I6 to which ismedially connected a bracket II. The tongue I3 may be connected to thehousing by the reinforcing bars I8 and the retaining plates I9 secure bythe bolts 20 to the tongue I3. A rear cross beam or member 2I islongitudinally spaced from the housing I0 and is supported by the groundwheels 22. Each of the wheels 22 is connected to a strut 23 having apair of coacting clamps 24 and 25 shaped to conform with the congurationof the cross beam 2I and be secured thereto by the threaded bolts 26 andnuts 21 (Fig. 4). The strut 23 may be connected to the beam 2| so thatthe wheels 22 extend either rearwardly or forwardly thereof.

Adjacent the ends of the beam 2I are spaced pairs of upstanding brackets28 and 29 similar in shape and size. Between each pair of these bracketsare a lower pair of torque bars or arms 30 which extend longitudinallyand forwardly from the beam 2I and are maintained in spaced parallelposition by the spacer tubes 3| carried by the pins 32 and 33respectively. The pins 32 extend transversely through the spacedbrackets 28 while the pins 33 extend through bifurcated members 34provided with the webs 35 that are welded to the outer surface of eachof the sides I2 as at 36 (Fig. 1). A pair of similarly formed torquebars 3l of shorter length than the bars 3U are connected by the bolts 38and spacer tubes 39 to the spaced brackets 28 and 29. Each of thesebrackets may be provided with spaced openings 40 for adjustablyconnectingthe bars 3l thereto. The front end of each of the bars aesasez31 is pivotally connected to a bifurcated member 4| by the transversebolt 42. The member 4| is similar in shape to the member 32 and has aweb 43 which is welded as at 44 to the side I2 of the housing. It willbe noted that an upper and lower pair of the torque bars or members 30and 31 are positioned on opposite sides of the housing and constitute apivotal or free iloating connection of the housing and its associatedparts with the rear cross beam 2|. A coil spring 45 extends downwardlyfrom the top of each of the upper bars 31 and between the lower bars 30and substantially centrally thereof soas to be connected at its lower`end as at 46 (Fig. 1) to one side of the machine. The upper end of thecoil spring 45 has 'welded or otherwise secured thereto an internallythreaded nut 41 (Fig. 4) forreceivng the threaded stem 48 of a bolt 49`that loosely extends through a stop plate 50 that rests against the topof torque bars 31. It will be seen that upon threading of the bolt 49into the nut 41 that this inward movement will cause extension of thecoil spring 45 and conversely turning of the bolt 49 in the oppositedirection will allow contraction of the spring. 'I hus, the springs 45support the rear end of the housing l and serve to absorb the rotationalvibration caused by vunbalance at the high speed at which the flails 53operate.

vMounted within the housing il is a trans- Versely disposed rotatablefiail shaft (Fig. 6) on which are mounted radially extending pairs ofspaced lugs 52 between each pair of which is` pivotally connected a nailor impactvmember 53 by a transverse pin 54 (Fig. 5). These liails arearranged in transverse rows and circumferentially spaced relativel toone another so as to completely cover the operating area over which themachine travels. It will be seen that when the parts are assembled thetorque bars provide a` pivotal connection between the housing assemblyand the cross beam 2| so that the housing may be raised or lowered inorder to vertically adjust the flails 53 relative to the groundwithoutdisturbing or moving the crossbeam 2|. The shaft 5| has reducedend portions 55 (Fig. 5) which extend through the sides |2. One end 55also extends through a connecting plate 56 and has keyed or otherwisesecured thereto a belt sheave o r pulley 51 (Fig. 5). The sheave 51 isprovided with spaced circumferentially disposed V-shaped grooves 59 forreceiving complementary formed endless V-shaped belts 59. As shown,three of these grooves are formed in veach of the sheaves 51Aforreceiving three endless belts v59 and are so designed as to protect thedriving mechanism against shock loading. The plate 56 is preferablyshaped as shown in Figure 1 and is provided with a continuous outwardlyextending flange 69, that forms a compartment or chamber arranged to beclosed by the cover 12 (Fig. 2). The plate 56 may be secured to the end|2 of the housing in any suitable manner such as by the ,spaced threadedbolts 6| and nuts 62. rThe sheave 51` is in longitudinal alignment witha complementary formed belt sheave 63 having three spacedcircumferentially disposed grooves 64 for receiving .the V-shapedendless belts 59.

The `pulley 63 is keyed or otherwise connected to an operating shaft 65carried by a bearing plate 66, that is secured as at 61 to the plate 56(Fig.'5). Similarly, the rotor shaft 5| is connectedto the side l2 ofthe housing and the plate'56 by a bearing vplate 68 and the bolts'69.vIn. order toV maintain the endless belts 59 inV proper drivinglposition, beit tensioning means are provided in the form of alongitudinally adjustable bearing carrier or plate 10 (Fig. 1) which isinterposed between the bearing plate 68 and the plate 55, and which isprovided withlongitudinally spaced pairs of horizontal slots 1| arrangedto receive the clamping bolts 6| (Fig. 5) so as to be clamped thereto bythe nuts 62. Extending laterally from one side l2 of the housing andbetween the endless belts 59, is a bifurcated bracket member '13, theweb 14, of which has a central opening through which longitudinallyextends a threaded bolt 15 (Fig. 4) the stem of which extends through afixed lug 16 on the adjustable carrier plate 10 and in transversealignment with the web 14. An angulated indicating member 11 is carriedby each of the bolts 15 and has a horizontal pointer 18 arranged to bemoved in vertical alignment with the lug 16. An adjusting nut 19 isthreaded on the stem 15Y anda coil spring is confined between the lug 16and the angulated member 11. A bearing or stop member 8| is positionedbetween. the members 13 and has an opening through which the bolt 15loosely extends so as to receive the thrust from the head of the bolt. y

v The belt tensioning means is so arranged that when the spring 80 iscompressed to a position so that the end of the pointer 18 issubstantially in vertical alignmentv with the lug A1t, it will indicatethat the bolts are properly tensioned. This can be effected by looseningthe nuts 62 so that the bearing carrier l0 and its associated parts canbe moved longitudinally in order that the shaft 55 may be properlyspaced from the shaft 65 to insure proper tensioning of the belts `59.yThe nuts 62 are then tightened on the bolts 6| to maintain the parts inproper position.

The shaft 65 (Fig. l) is operatively connected through a universal joint82 to a spacer shaft 83 carried by bearing plate 84 secured as at 85 toVa gear housing 8 6 in which yis mounted suitable high speed gearing,not shown, which is operatively connected to a shaft 81 and the driveshaft 38 through a universal joint 89. The shaft 88 is connected througha universal joint with the propeller or drive shaft 9| of the tractor.Thus, positive drive means are provided for rotating the liails at avery high speed, as the machine is drawn or moved along the ground.

y In order that the flail 53 may be maintained in proper verticaladjustment relative to the ground during the disintegrating operationmeans vareprovided `for raising or lowering the rear endl of the housingand the rotor shaft 5| about the pivot point |4 (Fig. 2) and Withoutdisturbing the relative position of the cross beam 2| and wheels 22during the operation of the machine. As shown in Figure 1 manual meansare provided for adjusting the flails, andy comprises a lift controlstrut or arm 93 which is pivotally connected at its front end as at 94vto an arm 95 of the operating bell crank lever 96, that in turn ispivoted as at 91 to the bracket |1. A quadrant member 98 is adjustablyconnected to the bracket |1 by the bolt 99 which selectively extendsthrough openings |00 (Fig. l) and is held in a fixed position by thebolt 91. The quadrant 98 has circumferentially spaced teeth |0| arrangedto receive a locking-pin `|02 carried lby a U-shaped bracket member |03,and is normally urged in a locking position by coil spring |04 yconfinedbetween the spaced arms of the bracketmember |03. A lever -rod |05 isconnected to the locking pin |02 so as to form an extension thereof andalso to a hand grip |06 pivoted at |01 to the lever 9B. The rear end ofthe strut 93 is adjustably connected to a plate |08 (Fig. 7) as at |09.The plate |08 is disposed centrally of the cross beam 2| and may bemounted thereon between spaced lugs l0 having transverse alignedopenings through which extend a rod Projecting forwardly from the endsof the rod |II are links |I2 which are connected at their front ends bya transverse rod or bolt ||3 that extends through the plate |08.Reinforcing straps I I4 may extend laterally from opposite sides of theplate I08 so as to abut the links 2 and thus provide a movable but rigidconnection between the control strut 93 and ther cross beam 2|.Depending links ||5 pivotally connected to the transverse rod I3 arealso connected by lugs I 6 and a rod I 1 to a transversely disposedshoulder or flanged portion |I8 formed or connected to the rear end ofthe curved housing or hood |I (Fig. '1). Thus, it will be seen that asimple, efficient and positive lifting mechanism is provided for movingthe housing vertically in order to adjust the flails 53 relative to theground while maintaining the beam 2| and wheels 22 as they move over afield in the same angular relationship with the ground. The lower torquearms 3| are of longer length than the upper torque arms 31, so that asthe operating lever 96 is actuated to raise or lower the iiails, therear ends of the torque arms will move in a substantially verticalplane.

When assembling the machine, in order that the counterbalance springs`l|5 will efficiently absorb rotational vibration, the housing and rotorassembly are initially mounted on the cross beam 2| by first positioninga support or block such as I|9 (Fig. 6) under the end of the tongue I3.Assuming that the machine is completely assembled and disconnected fromthe tractor, the control strut 93 is disconnected from the plate 28 soas to assume the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 6 so that themachine is now suspended by the counterbalance springs 45 and floatsfree on the springs. The adjusting bolts 49 are then tightened so thatthe tips of the flails or impact members 53 are at their extreme lowposition as determined by the particular purpose the machine is to beused. It will, of course, be necessary to adjust each of the springs 45on opposite sides of the housing individually due to the side carryingthe belt drive being heavier than the other. It is, of course, essentialthat the elastic belts 59 be operated at all times at proper tension.Should these belts become loose they may be quickly tensioned uponloosening the bolts 62 so as to longitudinally adjust the carrier 10 tomove the shaft 55 so as to tighten the belts. To insure properadjustment, the nut 19 on the bolt 'I5 (Fig. 4) is rotated until thespring 80 is compressed so that the pointed end 18 of the indicator isin vertical alignment with the lug 16 on the carrier 10. The bolts 62are then tightened so as to maintain the rotor shaft and sheave 51 inproper operative position relative to the front sheave 63.

Instead of providing manual lifting means for adjusting the ailsrelative to the ground, fluid pressure means may be provided. As shownin Figure 8 the parts are substantially similar in construction andoperation to those previously described with the exception that insteadof manual means, a fluid pressure cylinder |20 is operatively connectedto the lift control strut I 2| by a clamp |22 and a pivot pin |23. Thefront of the control strut |2| is adjustably connected as at |24 to thecurved nail housing |25 in which is rotatably mounted a rotor shaft suchas |26 that is similar in construction and operation to the rotor shaft5I previously described. The shaft |20 is arranged to be driven by theendless V-belts |21 which pass over the sheave |28 keyed to the shaft|26 and a sheave |29 keyed to an operating shaft |30. The tension of thebelts |21 may be adjusted by tensioning mechanism |3| connected to theplate 10 and similar in construction and operation to the tensioningdevice previously described. This plate 10 is maintained in adjustedposition by the bolts 8| that extend through the slots 1| and aresecured in place by the nuts 1|, in the manner previously described. Therear cross beam |32 is medially connected to a bracket |33 which in turnis pivotally connected to a lug |34 on the housing |25 by the links |35and pins |36. The cylinder |20 has a piston rod |31 extending outwardlytherefrom so as to be pivotally connected as at |38 to a lug or plate|39 fixed to the plate |33. Extending upwardly from the cross beam 32adjacent the plate |33 is a fixed strap M0 which is adjustably connectedas at IIII, the lift control strut |2I. Torque bars |42 and |153 similarin construction and operation to the torque bars previously described,are pivotally connected to opposite sides of the housing |25 as at |44and also to the cross beam |32 in a manner similar to the connectionshown in Figure 1. A counterbalance spring |l|5lis adjustably connectedto the torque bars and also to the machine as at |46. Ground wheels |41are connected by the strut arms |48 and the clamp |49 to the cross beam|32 and are detachably connected thereto by the bolts |50 and nuts |5I.The wheels |01 may be mounted either in front or rear of the cross beam32 or may extend rearwardly and forwardly thereof as indicated in Figure6. Fluid under pressure is introduced into the cylinders I 20 by theflexible hose |52 which extends forwardly so as to be connected to asupply tank and a control valve, not shown, preferably positionedadjacent the seat of the operator of the tractor.

Thus it will be seen that simple, efficient economical and positivemeans are provided for adjustably suspending the housing and impactmembers relative to a wheel supporting rear beam, so as to readilyadjust the flails or impact members 53 relative to the ground, for thepurpose of disintegrating or removing the tops of vegetable plants suchas potato vines, beet tops, and likewise for disintegrating coarse orheavy vegetable tops such as corn stalks and the like. In thisconnection, it may be mentioned that due to the high rotational speed ofthe flails the spring or tandem suspension means has been provided toabsorb the rotational vibration of the machine. Moreover, the V-belt andbelt tensioning means insure efficient operation of the flails at highspeed, which would be difcult of accomplishment if a chain drive wereused.

The size and dimension of the machine may be varied in accordance withthe particular operating conditions and the purpose to which the defvice is to be applied. It may be mentioned that the torque bars andspring suspension assembly are so designed, that when the disintegratingmachine is mounted in an operating position on the towing tractor I3,the hood l0 and flails 53 may be raised or lowered to any position asthe front of the machine moves or swings bodily about the pivot I4.During this movement the rear cross beam or member 2l as well as thewheels 22 will remain in the same angular relationship with the ground.This is true whether the wheels 2- 2 are positioned forward orrearwardly of the beam 2l or arranged on both sides thereof. In thisconnection it may be mentioned that when the wheels are mounted onopposite sides of the beam 2| they are arranged so that the wheels whichContact the highest ground will also carry the load of the machine. Thebalance suspension of the machine is so designed that on level groundall wheels carry an equal share of the load through the entire verticaladjustment range of the lifting mecha,- nism. Moreover, the specialtorque suspension and spring arrangement insures the weight of thehousing and the rotor shaft assembly being carried by the springs v45through the torque bars directly to the rear beam 2| and to the groundengaging wheels 22, without transferring any excessive weight to otherparts of the machine. Thus, the flails may be vertically adjusted eithermanually or by fluid operating means by the application of very littlepower, with the result that relatively light material may be used in theconstruction of the parts, The indicator means 'H provides a springbalance for determining the belt tension so as to indicate when thistension is achieved. The pivotal connection of the springs 45 throughthe torque bars with the rear cross member 2l also insures the accuratepositioning laterally of the crossbeam 2l with respect to the housing Iland the flail rotor shaft 5l.

It also limits the amount of difference in height variation from side toside, obtainable by variation in spring loa-d adjustment. The springsuspension also provides means for compensation in velocity ratio of thelifting mechanism so as to compensate for the variation in springtension between the high and low positions the housing I0 and flails 53may assume. In other words, when the housing is low, the effect of thespring counterbalance is high and the velocity ratio of the lift on thestrut arm 93 is high. Conversely, when the housing I0 is moved to itsuppermost position (Fig. 4), the effect of the spring counterbalance islow and the velocity ratio of the lift on the strut 93 is likewise low.

It will be understood that the forms of the invention shown are merelyillustrative and that such changes may be made as come within the scopeof the following claims.

I claim:

1. An agricultural machine of the class de.- scribed arranged to beconnected to a towing tractor or the like, said machine including awheel supported cross beam, a vertically displaceable housing in frontof said cross beam, a rotor shaft transversely mounted in said housing,impact members connected to said shaft and extending radially andoutwardly therefrom, means operatively connected to said shaft forrotating said impact members, spaced parallel pairs of torque members oneach side of said housing and pivotally connected thereto, meanspivotally connecting each pair of torque members to said cross beam, atension spring suspended from each pair of said torque members andconnected to the machine, said torque members coacting with the tensionsprings for insuring the housing at all times being supported in properbalanced position by the crossbeam, and means operatively connected tothe housing and to said cross beam for vertically moving the housing andthe impact members relative to the ground.

2. An agricultural machine as called for in claim l in which each pairof torque members includes upper bars and lower bars, the upper barsbeing of shorter length than the lower bars.

3. An agricultural machine as called for in claim l in which manuallyoperable means is connected to the housing for moving the same and theimpact members vertically relative to the ground.

4. An agricultural machine as called for in claim l in which uidpressure operated means is connected to the housing for moving the sameand the flails vertically relative to the ground.

5. An agricultural machine as called for in claim l in which an endlessbelt driving means is operatively connected to the rotary shaft forrotating the impact members, and belt tensioning means is operativelyconnected to said driving means for maintaining the belts in properdriving position.

6. An agricultural machine of the class described arranged to beconnected to a towing tractor or the like, said machine including awheel supported cross beam, a rotor shaft transversely mounted in saidhousing, impact members connected to said shaft and extending radiallyand outwardly therefrom, means operatively connected to said shaft forrotating said impact members, said cross beam adjacent the ends thereofhaving upwardly extending brackets, a pair of longitudinally extendingparallel torque bars pivotally connected to one of said brackets andextending outwardly and forwardly therefrom, means pivotally connectingsaid pair of torque bars to one side of said housing, a pair oflongitudinally extending parallel torque bars pvotally connected to theother bracket at the opposite side of said housing, each of said pair oftorque bars having a spring extending downwardly therefrom and connectedat its lower end to a side of the housing, means for adjusting thetensioning of each spring, said torque bars coacting with said springsfor insuring the housing at all times being supported in proper balancedposition by the crossbeams, a control bracket pivotally connected tosaid cross beam and the rear of said housing, an operating leverpivotally connected to the housing, means operatively connecting theoperating lever to said control bracket so as to move the housingvertically rela.- tive to the cross beam in order to adjust the impactmembers relative to the ground.

7. An agricultural machine of the class described arranged to beconnected to a towing tractor or the like, said machine including aWheel supported cross beam, a vertically displaceable housing in frontof said cross beam, a, rotor shaft transversely mounted in said housing,impact members connected to said shaft and extending radially andoutwardly therefrom, means operatively connected to said shaft forrotating said impact members, said cross beam adjacent the ends thereofhaving upwardly extending brackets, a pair of longitudinally extendingparallel torque bars pivotally connected to one of said brackets andextending outwardly and forwardly therefrom, means pivotally connectingsaid pair of torque bars to one side of said housing, a pair oflongitudinally extending parallel torque bars pivotally connected to theother bracket and the opposite side of said housing, each of said pairsof torque arms having a spring extending downwardly therefrom andconnected 9 at its lower end to a side of the housing, means foradjusting the tension of each spring, said torque bars coacting with thesprings for insuring the housing at all times being supported in properbalanced position by the crossbeam, a control plate pivotally connectedto said cross beam and the rear of said housing, an operating leverpivotally connected to the housing, and means operatively connecting theoperating lever to said control plate so as to move the housingvertically relative to the cross beam in order to vertically adjust theimpact members relative to the ground and Without disturbing the angularReferences Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,335,054 Godwin Nov. 23, 1943 2,506,054 Agee et al May 2,1950 2,537,586 Huiteman Jan. 9, 1951 2,556,446 Roach June l2, 19512,571,669 Boyce et al. Oct. 16, 1951 2,585,296 Bennett et al Feb. 12,1952

